Are We Living in a Self-Centred Society?
Many people observe modern culture and ask, "Are we living in a self-centered society?" The signs are everywhere: the relentless quest for individual fame, the curated perfection of online life, and a political landscape often defined by polarized self-interest. From a Christian perspective, this observed self-focus is not a new cultural phenomenon, but a constant reflection of the core human condition—a state the Bible calls sin.
The Bible diagnoses the deepest root of self-centeredness as the human tendency to dethrone God and place the "self" in the center of life.
1. The Biblical Diagnosis: A Disease of the Heart
The scriptural definition of self-centeredness is not just poor manners or excessive vanity; it is a fundamental spiritual issue.
The Love of Self as the Root of Sin: Long before social media, the Apostle Paul described a future marked by precisely this focus: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy..." (2 Timothy 3:1–2).
The Desire for Personal Glory: The biblical narrative begins with a choice—to follow God's will or to grasp for self-sovereignty. When humanity chose to decide right and wrong for themselves, the natural result was a life centered on personal desire. This inward turn affects every part of life, causing us to seek our own glory and satisfaction above all else, which the Bible defines as pride (Proverbs 16:18).
The Lack of Empathy: A self-centered life is one that cannot truly see the needs of others. The focus is entirely on "my feelings," "my rights," and "my success." This leads to the fundamental Christian failure—the failure to love one's neighbor as oneself, which Jesus called the second great commandment (Mark 12:31).
2. Modern Culture as a Magnifying Glass for Self
While the underlying human heart has not changed, modern society has built powerful tools and structures that amplify and reward this innate self-centeredness.
Individualism over Community: Modern Western culture champions individualism, often teaching that your primary purpose is to discover and fulfill your personal potential, sometimes at the expense of others. In contrast, the New Testament consistently emphasizes the collective body—the Church—where believers are bound together by mutual love and service (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The Platform of Self-Worship: Social media platforms provide the perfect stage for the biblical definition of pride to play out. The constant opportunity to curate a perfect image, seek validation through "likes," and track one's own popularity reinforces the very self-absorption the Bible warns against. The reward system is based on attracting attention to the self, not directing attention to God or serving others.
The Sovereignty of Self and Identity: The cultural emphasis on personal identity often manifests in the belief that an individual has the unilateral right to define their own reality, including gender and pronouns, with the expectation that everyone else must affirm and submit to that personal definition. The slogan "be whoever you want to be and everyone just has to accept it" highlights the ultimate elevation of individual will over external authority, including what the Bible claims as God-given design and the needs of community. For the Christian, this cultural mandate represents a profound expression of self-sovereignty, directly opposing the call to submit one's identity to the Creator and to pursue unity and truth within the body of Christ.
Consumerism and Covetousness: The constant marketing of consumer culture exploits self-centered desires, fueling a cycle where we are perpetually unsatisfied with what we have and constantly desire what others possess. The command against coveting is not just about possessions, but about the heart's dangerous, self-focused demand for more (Exodus 20:17).
3. The Christian Solution: Crucifying the Self
For the Christian, the answer to a self-centered society is not just to complain about it, but to live a radically different life.
Re-centering on Christ: True life transformation begins by realizing that the Christian life is an intentional choice to stop living for oneself and start living for Christ. Paul states, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). This is the act of crucifying the self.
Putting Others First: The ultimate antidote to self-centeredness is found in Christ's example of humility and self-sacrifice. Believers are commanded to adopt this same mindset: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3–4).
Love as the Measure: Ultimately, the self-centered society is cured by the radical outpouring of agape love (selfless, unconditional love) which is the hallmark of the Christian. This love "does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking..." (1 Corinthians 13:4–5).
The self-centered society is real because the self-centered heart is real. But the hope of the Gospel is that through Christ, the self can be turned outward—toward God in worship, and toward the neighbor in service.
